Everyone wants to live a healthy lifestyle, yet millions are overweight, inactive, and unwell. Most of us are so overscheduled, overtired, and overwhelmed, it seems impossible to find the time and energy needed for exercise. According to fitness expert Denise Locsin, staying fit as a family can help everyone get into shape. In the following guest post, she offers some great tips.  

The lazy days of summer are winding down and you know what that means: the hectic schedules are just beginning. Between back-to-school shopping, picking the kids up from camp, soaking up some rays of sun at the beach, and/or squeezing in a last-minute family vacation, it’s no surprise that fitness ends up on the back burner.

With 4 children, and a busy career, I struggle to find the right moment to exercise. Being a fitness coach, you would think I’d have mastered it, but my family is no different from any other. Because I know how important it is to keep the whole family active, we make it a priority.

To commit to becoming active together, it’s critical to plan ahead. Having a scheduled time prevents conflict with other commitments. It’s also important to take advantage of your routine. Getting in the rhythm of my children’s schedule helps me decide what activities are best for that day, based on the time available.

One dispute that comes up is the amount of time my kids spend on devices. By setting a time limit (under 2 hours), it allows them to enjoy their screen time, but also gives us a chance to get fresh air as a family. Don’t worry about finding hours for hikes and bike rides. Even a quick stroll through the neighborhood does the trick and is much more manageable.

To keep my family interested, I try to not overdo it. Allowing your children to choose the “Activity of the Day” makes them feel like they have more say and increases their excitement. Dreading physical activity is not the goal! Instead, the goal is to have fun and stay active. Whether it’s working towards doing a charitable 5k together or simply being able to increase the family push up total, setting goals is a good way to keep your children interested and motivated.

By staying fit as a family, we strengthen not only our bodies, but also our bonds and create priceless memories.

About the Author:

Denise Locsin is a fitness expert that specialize in relationship and family exercise. Along with her husband, Danny, she created the Yokebar, which has been described as the ultimate family exercise program. As a busy working mother, Denise wanted something that was high intensity, but also safe and easy to set up. Finding a system that could adapt to a variety of fitness needs and ability levels was challenging. The requirements became even broader when Danny injured himself and was forced to give up his usual exercise routine.

After much scientific research and testing, Yokebar was born. Today, Danny and Denise train people in the Yoke Training System and also are the founders of Hi5 Produce, a leading corporate produce delivery service located in the Silicon Valley.

Connect with Denise and Danny on their website.

If you’re anything like me, chances are this picture will make you laugh. Seriously, don’t you just hate dealing with laundry? Not only is it boring, the frequency is ridiculous! The clothes, the towels, the bedsheets, on and on it goes, without end. Other than dishes, there is no chore that needs to be repeated so often. Since laundry is a necessary part of life, I have tried my best to find a more manageable system. While it will never be my favorite activity, here are a few ways to make it (slightly) better:

• Keep the room stocked – Have adequate supplies of detergent, Woolite, bleach, Shout, etc.
• Beautify the room – There’s nothing worse than a gray, dark, dingy closet that feels suffocating. Ideally, the room will have a window. If not, installing adequate lighting and painting it bright white can help.
• Organize the room – Have a set place for everything you need. Being as efficient as possible saves time and sanity.
• Work as a team – One person shouldn’t be responsible for the entire family’s laundry. Ask a spouse or older children to pitch in. Many moms are afraid to delegate, fearing it won’t be “perfect.” Let go of that notion and accept “good enough.”
• Distract yourself – Play an audio book, music, or a favorite TV show.
• Set limits – This will depend on your family size and the size of your laundry equipment. More people means more washing, of course, but very few of us need to wash 8 loads a day!
• Assign one day of the week – I prefer to do all laundry once a week, usually on Monday.
• Hampers – Provide one hamper per person, kept in their bedroom. This keeps clothes off the floor and eliminates guesswork.
• Run only full loads – This one should be obvious, yet I know many folks who will put only a pair of jeans and a tee shirt into the washer at once. Wait until you have a full—but not stuffed—machine.
• Do one load start to finish – Wash, dry, fold, and put away one load before you start on the next.
• Read tags and follow instructions – Fabric tags exist for a reason. By following the care guidelines, clothes will last longer and look better.
• Use Pre-Treat – There’s nothing worse than having to wash a second time due to stubborn stains. I’m not picky about most brands, but Shout is my absolute favorite.

How much laundry do you wash weekly?